crews



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. H; OREWS. EXTENSION BEACH FOR LADDERS.

N0.495,10a. Patented Apr. 11, 1893.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAYTON H. OREWS, OF IOWA PARK, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I JAMES I. FAISON, OF SAME PLACE.

EXTENSlON-BRACE FOR LADDE RS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,108, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed May 23,1892. Renewed March 14:, 1893. Serial Ila-465,968., (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: stop block or projection 12 above the said Be it known that I, DAYTON H. GREWs, a teeth, the latter being adapted to prevent citizen of the United States, residing at Iowa the downward movement of the said brace Park, in the county of Wichita and State of beyond a predetermined point. The lower 55 Texas, have invented a new and useful Exsupport or rest for the brace 10, consists of tension-Brace for Ladders, of which the folparallel bars or strips 13, connectedby straps lowing is a specification. or cross pieces 14, which hold thesaid bars This invention relates to certain new and or strips 13 apart from each other sufficiently useful improvements in extension ladders, to permit the brace to freely move between 60 [O and has special reference to extension braces the inner opposing edges thereof and inside for such class of ladders, and consists of an of the straps or cross pieces 14 to be placed improvement on the construction and arrangeagainst opposing sides of the bars or strips ment of parts as set forth in my application 13 at the upper and lower portions of the for patent bearing Serial No. 416,413, filed same foran evident purpose. Suitable boxes 65 I5 September 29, 1891, and allowed April 27, 15 are secured on the upper portion of the 1892, as will be more fully hereinafter debar or strips 13 and therein is journaled a scribed and claimed. shaft 16, having acrank handle 17 at one end,

The object of this invention is to provide a toothed or gear wheel 18 thereon between an extension brace for extension ladders in the boxes 15, and a ratchet wheel on the end 70 which the parts composing the same are posiof the same opposite to that to which the tively raised and lowered by means of direct crank handle 17 is located, said ratchet wheel acting mechanism which is so constructed 19 being engaged by a pawl 20 adjacentlyloand arranged as to obtain the most beneficial cated. The said toothed or gear wheel 18 enresults from acomparatively small applicagages the teeth 11 on the lower portion of the 75 tion of power, the parts being strong and dubrace 10, and thereby the ladder is raised and rable easily operated and readily understood. lowered when the shaft 16 is suitably oper- In the drawings:Figure 1 is a perspecated. The block or projection 12 on thebrace tive View of a ladder showing improved con- 10 is adapted to contact with one of the upstruction in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is per cross strips 14 to limit the movement of 80 a side elevation of the same, broken away. the said brace as herein beforeset forth. The Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the brace operbars or strips 13 are held in elevated position ating mechanism. by divergent legs 21 bolted to the lower por- Similar numerals of reference are employed tions of the same, as at 22 and held in rein to indicate corresponding parts in the several forced position by the lower straps or cross 85 fi eg strips 14 which are extended outward beyond Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 the bars or strips 13, and secured to said designates the ladder section which is at the legs. The lower portions of the legs 21 are bottom and is adapted to receive extension formed with apertures 23 for adjustment of sections 2 and 3, which are supplied with opthe sleeves 24. Above the lower ends of the 9) o crating mechanism 4, 5 and 6 as fully set said legs 21 are secured the sleeves 24 having forth in my aforesaid application and adapteyes 25, which are adapted to be engaged by ed to be actuated to extend or withdraw the the hooked ends of stay rods 26, pivotally several ladder sections as will be understood. connected to the ladder section 1, and adapt- To the upper portion of the bottom or lower ed to be folded up against said latter section 95 ladder section 1 is secured a brace or connecand engaged by spring holding jaws 27, se-

tion 7, consisting of side bars 8, connected to cured to the side rails of said ladder section, the side rails of said ladder section and havand having flaring ends 28 to provide a coning cross strips 9 connecting the same. To 7 venient means of forcing the ends of the said the central portion of the cross strips 9, is stay rods 26 thereinto. The teeth 11 may be I00 secured the upper end of a brace 10, having connected to or formed with the brace 10 and teeth 11 on the lower portion thereof and a other parts of the construction might be slightly changed without in the least departing from the nature and spirit of the invention. The brace or connection 7 is in the form of a pivoted depending frame, and as the brace 10 is operated, the lower ladder section 1, together with the other sections carried thereby may be suitably inclined and held in adjusted position.

The construction provides for an easy and rapid adjustment of the parts of the ladder and the device as a whole forms an important improvement on the construction shown and described in the aforesaid application.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In aladder of the character set forth, the combination of a lower ladder section, a brace connected thereto and having teeth thereon, a support consisting of parallel bars between which the said brace has movement, a shaft carryinga toothed wheel to engage the teeth with the said brace and having a ratchet and pawl mechanism in connection therewith, divergent legs connected to said support and stay rods detachably secured to said legs and carried by the said ladder section, substantially as described.

2. In a ladder of the character set forth,the

combination of a lower ladder section, a depending frame pivotally connected to the upper part of said ladder section, a brace connected to said frame and having teeth thereon, a support having'parallel bars with cross strips for connecting pieces between which the said brace has adjustable movement, a block or projection on said brace to limit the movement thereof, a shaft carried by said support having a toothed or gear wheel thereon adapted to engage the teeth of the brace,

and ratchet and pawl mechanism in connection with the same, divergent legs having lower adjustable sleeves above the ends of the said legs and having eyes in connection therewith, stay braces having hooked ends engaging said eyes of the sleeves and pivotally carried by the ladder section and spring holding devices carried by the said ladder section wit-h which the said stay rods are adapted to engage, substantially as described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. DAYTON H. CREWS.

Witnesses:

R. S. SIMS, '1. W. BRIscoE. 

